Next of Kin (and relationship): Miss Georgette Bissonnette (sister)
Date of enlistment: January 25th, 1941
City and province of enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Essay
During World War II, many men and women sacrificed their lives for the sake of their nation. Thousands of Canadians enlisted with different sections of the Canadian Military during World War II to help protect the safety and freedom of their own nation. Many of these men and women were young and just finishing school. Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette was born September 10th, 1919 to Arthur and Rosa Bissonnette (Royal Canadian Air Force, Attestation Paper). At the tender age of 22, Guy went missing in air operations and was presumed dead on July 26th, 1942 (Province of Manitoba, Official Registration of Death). Guy grew up in Norwood, Manitoba with one brother and three sisters. Guy attended school until grade 10; he then started working with two different companies. After working as a truck driver and mechanic for a few years, Guy decided to train with the Royal Canadian Air Force and become an Air Gunner, after training he enlisted with the Air Force and went to battle overseas. Guy did not spend much time overseas before being presumed dead (Attestation Paper). While overseas, women took jobs that were left by men and the United States Army was planning on building a railway to Alaska.
Guy Bissonnette was born in Lorette, Manitoba. He grew up at 155 Horace Street in Norwood, Manitoba in a bilingual family with 4 siblings and his parents (Attestation Paper). He had three sisters Georgette, Aimie, and Olivine and one brother named William (R.C.A.F. Lists Two Winnipeg Casualties). Guy attended Provencher School from grade 4 till grade 7.
Provencher School in St. Boniface, where Guy attended middle school
He then went to Tache Norwood for grades eight, nine, and ten. At 5 feet 9 inches, he was not very athletic. He played baseball, but not in a competitive league. Guy also liked swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. On top of playing occasional sports, Guy liked listening to the radio (Attestation Paper). “Guy was a healthy and tall man. He was described as swathy, rough and ready Frenchman. Though not having good academic qualifications he had been working for 2 years (Attestation Paper).” After studying at Tache Norwood, Guy studied at St. Paul’s College for two months. Guy’s records state that he only attended to school till grade 10. After finishing at St. Paul’s College, Guy was employed as a mechanic and shipping clerk at Massey Harris from 1938 till 1941. Bissonnette also worked between 1937 and 1941 at Gauthier’s wood yard as a truck driver. In 1941, Guy Bissonnette began training to become an Air Gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force (Attestation Paper). Guy stopped working for Massey Harris and Gauthier’s wood yard and not much longer; he attained his wings at Mountain View Air School.
Guy was a mechanic at Massey Harris and would have worked on tractors like this
Guy then began to train to become an Air Gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force (Four Manitobans In Air Casualties). An Air Gunner is the member of the air force who controls machine guns and automatic cannons in the aircraft, but in the modern world, these weapons do not need someone to control them, but instead are automatic. Guy Bissonnette joined 78 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which fought overseas during the Second World War (Attestation Paper).
On January 25th, 1941 Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Guy Bissonnette’s Military Files). Sergeant Guy Bissonnette was deployed in early May, he sent a letter to his parents on May 15th, 1942 to inform them that he had arrived in England. On July 26th, 1942 less then 3 months after being deployed, Sergeant Bissonnette was presumed dead after air operations (Four Manitobans In Air Casualties). The ranking of sergeant was the ranking above the ranking of corporal (Dictionary.com). Since Guy Bissonnette was lost without a trace, there is no way of knowing where Guy may have died or what his squad was doing in that area at the time. All information known about the death of Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette is that he went missing in air operations and was later presumed dead for official purposes.
During the short period of time Guy was overseas, women began to play a much more important role in Canada. While the men were in combat overseas, women began to work in the industries that mostly only men worked in before being deployed. An industry women worked in was mining. The provincial government of Manitoba had permitted the women to work in the mining industry a few days prior to the death of Sergeant Bissonnette. The women were not allowed to work underground, but all the work above ground was acceptable. ("Women as Mine Workers Is Manitoba Innovation"). They had a tremendous impact on the mining industry during World War II, since there was a high need for the metals. June 1942, The United States Army began planning the construction of a new railway to connect Alaska to the rest of the United States. The American government was seriously considering the building of the railroad and engineers were surveying the route (U.S. Army Studies Rail Route To Alaska).
After the death of Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette on July 26th, 1942 no traces were found of Guy. Therefore, Guy has no known grave, but is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial in Englegreen Field, Surrey, England and is also commemorated at the Ste. Anne War Memorial in Ste. Anne, Manitoba. Guy Bissonnette died at a very young age. This shows that he was truly a man for others. Before enlisting, Guy Bissonnette was well aware of the risks of going to war, but was ready to serve for his country. Unfortunately, Guy’s life ended too soon and will forever be remembered for his courageous service.
Military Service Record
Age (at death): 22 years 10 months 16 days
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit: 78 Squadron
Service Number: R. 91666
Honours and Awards: Air Gunners' Badge
An image of the Royal Canadian Air Force Air Gunner's Badge
Photograph: See above
Next of Kin (and relationship): Miss Georgette Bissonnette (sister)
Date of Death: July 26th, 1942
Country of Burial: Not buried, but honoured in England
Cemetery: Runnymede Memorial
Grave Reference: Panel 107
Location: Englefield Green, Surrey, England
Book of Remembrance: Page 58
Guy Bissonnette's name is located on page 58 of the World War II Book of Remembrance. 16th name from the top in the right column. Courtesy of Veterans Affair Canada
Grave Reference
Name of Cemetery: Runnymede Memorial
Grave Reference: Panel 107
Picture of Runnymede Air Force Memorial. Courtesy of Wikipedia
All 20327 identified casualties honoured at the Runnymede Memorial do not have a known grave anywhere around the world. Most of these soldiers were lost without a trace and battled in all different kind of commands. Their names are inscribed on the stone walls of the memorial. This Memorial designed by Sir Edward Maufe overlooks the River Thames on Copper’s Hill. It was unveiled by the Queen on October 17th, 1953 (Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Cemetery Details).
Guy Bissonnette is honoured at the Ste. Anne Memorial in Ste. Anne, Manitoba. It was built in 1976 to commemorate those who fought in World War II
Sergeant Bissonnette is pictured first to the left on the second row at the Ste. Anne War Memorial
Works Cited
“Casualty Details.” Commonwealth War Graves Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1529874/BISSONNETTE,%20GUY%20ANDRE%20RENE>. This site is very useful for my veteran, because it says what cemetery my soldier is honoured, the panel reference, his date of death, his rank and service number. this is very helpful for my soldiers
“Cemetery Details.” Commonwealth War Graves Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2012. <http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/109600/RUNNYMEDE%20MEMORIAL>. Gives a lot of information about the cemetery Bissonnette is honoured at.
Elson, R. T. “U.S. Army Studies Rail Route to Alaska.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 24 June 1942. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/06/24/articles/70.xml/iarchives>. A National Story about what was happening in North America while Guy was overseas.
“Four Manitobans in Air Casualties.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 5 Sept. 1942. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/09/05/articles/287.xml/iarchives>. this article not only says where he got his wings, but also where he trained as an air gunner. It gives some information about his schooling and his employment. it also lists the members of his family, which is useful for the paragraph about the earlier years of his life.
Province of Manitoba. Official Registration of Death. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Information about the death of Guy Bissonnette was taken from these documents
“R.C.A.F. Lists Two Winnipeg Casualties.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 27 July 1943. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1943/07/27/articles/35.xml/iarchives>. This article gives me a little information about his family and his life before going overseas. this is useful for the essay where I’m going to talk about his early life before war and where he trained before going overseas.
Royal Canadian Air Force. Attestation Paper. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. key information about Guy Bissonnette was obtained in this document
Royal Canadian Air Force. Guy Bissonnette Military Files. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. More information about Guy Bissonnette’s military career.
“Sergeant.” Dictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sergeant>. definition of the ranking of sergeant
“Ste. Anne Memorial.” We Will Remember. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <https://www.cdli.ca/monuments/mb/stanne.htm>. this website shows a picture of my soldier and also the war memorial where he is remembered in Manitoba since his body was never found.
“Women as Mine Workers Is Manitoba Innovation.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 23 July 1942. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/07/23/articles/3.xml/iarchives>. this is a useful article, because it shows how women are starting to work in Manitoba, because men are at war and Canada is in need of people to work in Canada. I will include this in the section when I talk about what is happening in Canada while my soldier is overseas.
“World War II.” Royal Canadian Air Force. National Defence, 3 Apr. 2009. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/hst/page-eng.asp?id=554>. This site is about the air force and has some good details about the air force in WWII. It is useful for the part of my essay where I will talk about the air force, my soldiers squadron, and the uniforms they wore.
Table of Contents
*Click on any picture to visit website where picture was taken
Service Personnel Information
View Larger Map
Essay
During World War II, many men and women sacrificed their lives for the sake of their nation. Thousands of Canadians enlisted with different sections of the Canadian Military during World War II to help protect the safety and freedom of their own nation. Many of these men and women were young and just finishing school. Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette was born September 10th, 1919 to Arthur and Rosa Bissonnette (Royal Canadian Air Force, Attestation Paper). At the tender age of 22, Guy went missing in air operations and was presumed dead on July 26th, 1942 (Province of Manitoba, Official Registration of Death). Guy grew up in Norwood, Manitoba with one brother and three sisters. Guy attended school until grade 10; he then started working with two different companies. After working as a truck driver and mechanic for a few years, Guy decided to train with the Royal Canadian Air Force and become an Air Gunner, after training he enlisted with the Air Force and went to battle overseas. Guy did not spend much time overseas before being presumed dead (Attestation Paper). While overseas, women took jobs that were left by men and the United States Army was planning on building a railway to Alaska.
Guy Bissonnette was born in Lorette, Manitoba. He grew up at 155 Horace Street in Norwood, Manitoba in a bilingual family with 4 siblings and his parents (Attestation Paper). He had three sisters Georgette, Aimie, and Olivine and one brother named William (R.C.A.F. Lists Two Winnipeg Casualties). Guy attended Provencher School from grade 4 till grade 7.
After finishing at St. Paul’s College, Guy was employed as a mechanic and shipping clerk at Massey Harris from 1938 till 1941. Bissonnette also worked between 1937 and 1941 at Gauthier’s wood yard as a truck driver. In 1941, Guy Bissonnette began training to become an Air Gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force (Attestation Paper). Guy stopped working for Massey Harris and Gauthier’s wood yard and not much longer; he attained his wings at Mountain View Air School.
On January 25th, 1941 Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Guy Bissonnette’s Military Files). Sergeant Guy Bissonnette was deployed in early May, he sent a letter to his parents on May 15th, 1942 to inform them that he had arrived in England. On July 26th, 1942 less then 3 months after being deployed, Sergeant Bissonnette was presumed dead after air operations (Four Manitobans In Air Casualties). The ranking of sergeant was the ranking above the ranking of corporal (Dictionary.com). Since Guy Bissonnette was lost without a trace, there is no way of knowing where Guy may have died or what his squad was doing in that area at the time. All information known about the death of Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette is that he went missing in air operations and was later presumed dead for official purposes.
During the short period of time Guy was overseas, women began to play a much more important role in Canada. While the men were in combat overseas, women began to work in the industries that mostly only men worked in before being deployed. An industry women worked in was mining. The provincial government of Manitoba had permitted the women to work in the mining industry a few days prior to the death of Sergeant Bissonnette. The women were not allowed to work underground, but all the work above ground was acceptable. ("Women as Mine Workers Is Manitoba Innovation"). They had a tremendous impact on the mining industry during World War II, since there was a high need for the metals. June 1942, The United States Army began planning the construction of a new railway to connect Alaska to the rest of the United States. The American government was seriously considering the building of the railroad and engineers were surveying the route (U.S. Army Studies Rail Route To Alaska).
After the death of Guy Andre Rene Bissonnette on July 26th, 1942 no traces were found of Guy. Therefore, Guy has no known grave, but is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial in Englegreen Field, Surrey, England and is also commemorated at the Ste. Anne War Memorial in Ste. Anne, Manitoba. Guy Bissonnette died at a very young age. This shows that he was truly a man for others. Before enlisting, Guy Bissonnette was well aware of the risks of going to war, but was ready to serve for his country. Unfortunately, Guy’s life ended too soon and will forever be remembered for his courageous service.
Military Service Record
Grave Reference
View Larger Map
All 20327 identified casualties honoured at the Runnymede Memorial do not have a known grave anywhere around the world. Most of these soldiers were lost without a trace and battled in all different kind of commands. Their names are inscribed on the stone walls of the memorial. This Memorial designed by Sir Edward Maufe overlooks the River Thames on Copper’s Hill. It was unveiled by the Queen on October 17th, 1953 (Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Cemetery Details).
Works Cited
“Casualty Details.” Commonwealth War Graves Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1529874/BISSONNETTE,%20GUY%20ANDRE%20RENE>. This site is very useful for my veteran, because it says what cemetery my soldier is honoured, the panel reference, his date of death, his rank and service number. this is very helpful for my soldiers“Cemetery Details.” Commonwealth War Graves Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2012. <http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/109600/RUNNYMEDE%20MEMORIAL>. Gives a lot of information about the cemetery Bissonnette is honoured at.
Elson, R. T. “U.S. Army Studies Rail Route to Alaska.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 24 June 1942. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/06/24/articles/70.xml/iarchives>. A National Story about what was happening in North America while Guy was overseas.
“Four Manitobans in Air Casualties.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 5 Sept. 1942. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/09/05/articles/287.xml/iarchives>. this article not only says where he got his wings, but also where he trained as an air gunner. It gives some information about his schooling and his employment. it also lists the members of his family, which is useful for the paragraph about the earlier years of his life.
Province of Manitoba. Official Registration of Death. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Information about the death of Guy Bissonnette was taken from these documents“R.C.A.F. Lists Two Winnipeg Casualties.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 27 July 1943. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1943/07/27/articles/35.xml/iarchives>. This article gives me a little information about his family and his life before going overseas. this is useful for the essay where I’m going to talk about his early life before war and where he trained before going overseas.
Royal Canadian Air Force. Attestation Paper. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. key information about Guy Bissonnette was obtained in this document
Royal Canadian Air Force. Guy Bissonnette Military Files. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. More information about Guy Bissonnette’s military career.
“Sergeant.” Dictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sergeant>. definition of the ranking of sergeant
“Ste. Anne Memorial.” We Will Remember. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <https://www.cdli.ca/monuments/mb/stanne.htm>. this website shows a picture of my soldier and also the war memorial where he is remembered in Manitoba since his body was never found.
“Women as Mine Workers Is Manitoba Innovation.” Editorial. Manitobia. N.p., 23 July 1942. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/07/23/articles/3.xml/iarchives>. this is a useful article, because it shows how women are starting to work in Manitoba, because men are at war and Canada is in need of people to work in Canada. I will include this in the section when I talk about what is happening in Canada while my soldier is overseas.
“World War II.” Royal Canadian Air Force. National Defence, 3 Apr. 2009. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/hst/page-eng.asp?id=554>. This site is about the air force and has some good details about the air force in WWII. It is useful for the part of my essay where I will talk about the air force, my soldiers squadron, and the uniforms they wore.